A client has recently started ferrous sulfate 500 mg by mouth two times per day for anemia. Which of the following data would indicate to the nurse that the therapy is successful?

A. Neutrophils 57%: This value reflects the percentage of neutrophils in the white blood cell count and does not specifically indicate the effectiveness of iron therapy. It is more related to the body’s immune response. B. International Normalized Ratio (INR) 13 seconds: INR is a measure of blood coagulation and is not directly related to iron levels or the treatment of anemia. Therefore, this result does not indicate the success of ferrous sulfate therapy. C. Total reticulocyte count 2.2% of total RBC count: An increased reticulocyte count indicates that the bone marrow is producing more red blood cells, which is a positive response to iron supplementation. A reticulocyte count around this percentage suggests an appropriate response to therapy for iron deficiency anemia. D. Platelet count 250,000/µL: This is a normal platelet count and does not provide information specific to the effectiveness of iron therapy. It does not reflect the state of anemia or the response to iron supplementation.